Dallas Zoo Moves Downtown for a Very Special Night

What: The Dallas Zoo‘s annual Zoo To Do

Where: Hyatt Regency Dallas

PC Moment: It was nearly 48 hours before the much-anticipated annual fundraiser for the Dallas Zoo, Zoo To Do, and weather forecasts were less than ideal. Event chairs Kim and Greg Hext made a game-time decision to change the venue from the Dallas Zoo’s outdoor grounds to the Hyatt Regency Dallas — and, quite literally, brought the zoo downtown.

In a majorly impressive feat of adaptability, the hotel was transformed into an exotic jungle, with oversized animal silhouettes glowing against lush greenery. A strolling dinner featured 27 different restaurant stations with chef creations from local eateries including Abacus, CBD Provisions, Gemma, Sachet, Imoto, Parigi, and Shinsei.

Per usual, the guests of honor stole the spotlight — namely, a very friendly penguin, a hungry anteater, and, the belle of the ball, Winspear the cheetah, who is named for a certain prominent Dallas family.

PC Seen: Gayla and Jim Von Ehr, Ellen Winspear, Diane and Michael Gruber, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, Kara and Randall Goss, Amy and Michael Meadows, Nancy Gopez, Barbara and Don Daseke, Diane and Hal Brierley, Carol and John Levy, Ruth O’Donnell Mutch, Travis Andres, Ed Brown, Lane Britain, Preston Stahl, Emily Ledeth, Jaclyn Logsdon, Madison Cansler, Meri-Kay Star, Lisa Simmons, Kathy and Kevin Hanrahan, Sharon and Gregg Hudson, and Joan and Alan Walne.